CMRL Project: Circular ring Metro Route in Chennai Metro City!
Posted on: 07/Dec/2020 1:11:38 PM
Once the second phase of the Chennai Metro Rail Project gets completed in the next 6 years, the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) is planning to commence the next project of setting up a ‘Circular (Ring) Route’ which will facilitate especially the Chennai Metro Citizens to facilitate a ’round trip’ of the entire Chennai |Metro City in two-and-a-half hours!
CMRL Project - 1st Phase: With the main objective of heavy traffic congestions prevailing in the Chennai Metro City, the 1st Phase of the Chennai |Metro Rail Project was taken up covering a distance of 45 km was taken up and completed and presently, two routes of CMRL, from Airport to Washermanpet (blue), and from MGR Central |Railway Station to St. Thomas Mount (Parangimalai) are in operation.
CMRL - 2nd Phase: Even as the 1st Phase of the CMRL Project was in progress, the 2nd Phase of the Chennai Metro Rail Limited Project, covering a distance of 118.9 km was announced!
It was decided to set up 3 corridors - Madhavaram-SIPCOT (45.8 km), Madhavaram-Sholinganallur (47.0 km), and Light House-Poonamallee (26.1 km). Accordingly, it has been estimated that the cost of this entire project would be Rs. 61843 Crores. Further, all the initial activities required for this project have been taken up and are in progress.
It is expected that this 2nd Phase of the Chennai Metro Rail Project, covering a distance of 118.9 km, will be completed by 2026.
Circular route: In this scenario, The Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has planned to take up establishing a circular Metro Rail route in the Chennai Metro City after the completion of the 2nd Phase when the Phase-2 trains are in operation. This means train services from Madhavaram to Adyar (Chennai East) and to Koyambedu-Sholinganallur (Chennai West) covering a distance of 81 km forming a circular route!
In this circular route, the corridors Madhavaram-SIPCOT (#3 – 45.8 km), and Madhavaram-Sholinganallur (#5 – 47.0 km) will be linked. This circular route will be in line with the Chennai Central Metro- Airport.
As regards the 2nd Phase of the Chennai Metro Rail, with the activities already in progress, is expected to be in operation by 2026.
7 trains in an hour: In this aspect, the officials of the Chennai Metro Rail Limited shared:
“In this circular route, trains will operate from Madhavaram to Koyambedu, Sholinganallur, Adyar and back to Madhavaram. 7 trains will be operated in an hour. Trains will be operated every 8.5 minutes.
The passengers can board at Perumbakkam (Madhavaram-Sholinganallur –Corridor#5), to Perambur (Madhavaram-SIPCOT Corridor#3), or from Taramani (Madhavaram-SIPCOT Corridor#3) to Thirumangalam (Madhavaram-Sholinganallur Corridor#5) passengers. The trains in this route will take passengers to the monorail from Porur Junction to Perungudi or Karappkkam in the stations located at the Old Mahabalipuram Road. This will save a considerable amount of time for the passengers!
Increase in revenue through passengers: In the detailed report submitted r4earing the 2nd Phase of the Metro Rail Project, it is estimated that through this circular route, it will take care of the passengers’ requirement via Madhavararam-SI|PCOT Corridor#3 and it is expected that 5171passengers will travel in the segment. It is estimated that 35714 passengers will travel from Madhavaram (MMPT) – Sholinganallur.
With the above, it is estimated that there would be a substantial increase in the number of passengers and revenue.
In the circular route, 21 trains carrying a 3-car rack and 15 trains carrying a 6-car rack would be required by the year 2025 as per recommendations from the concerned officials. They have informed that this would increase substantially to 37 6-car trains by the year 2055!
